Thursday, May 22, 2014

Reservoir Hill Improvement Council (RHIC) is very proud to be chosen as the recipient of the 2014 Milch Award for Excellence of Accomplishment from Loyola University Maryland.

Erin Bowman, RHIC's School Organizer and Healthy Food Coordinator, received the award on behalf of RHIC at Loyola University's 2014 Commencement Exercises. She was accompanied by RHIC Board Member Chartruse Robinson to a breakfast with university officials and the following commencement exercises. Erin, herself a graduate of Loyola University, has been RHIC's lead staff in our partnership with Loyola University. Reservoir Hill residents may well have seen Loyola University students in the community working on a wide range of projects. Service learning programs at colleges and universities allow students to have historical and modern context for their coursework in urban studies, while providing valuable services to uor city neighborhoods. In this case, Loyola students got connect their coursework in urban health and faith with real services in Reservoir Hill.

Erin Bowman with the 2014 Milch Award

We are grateful for our relationship with Loyola University and for the university's recognition of our work. Discussions are already underway for the next phase in our partnership, and We look forward to Loyola's continued partnership and presence in Reservoir Hill.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

If four hour planning sessions don’t sound like an exciting
evening to you, last night’s event to build a vision for a pedestrian-friendly,
bike-friendly, community-friendly West North Avenue certainly might have
changed your mind.About 50 neighbors
and supporters from communities north and south of North Avenue gathered at the
John Eager Howard Recreation Center in Reservoir Hill for a session led by
Neighborhood Design Center looking at how to improve the stretch of North
Avenue from Charles Street west to McCulloh.The group was diverse and the conversations were dynamic.

In small groups we created ideas for what we saw North
Avenue as being like in 2024, then as a full body we built a large set of
options for changes needed to achieve those visions.In small groups again we prioritized sets of
those needs.Then we discussed barriers
to a dynamic North Avenue and how we might address those barriers. For instance,
one group undertook the issue of the Howard Street bridge, while another looked
at transportation issues.

The West North Avenue Streetscape Project is helping
re-weave ties between communities along West North Avenue.The more we work together the more we learn
about each other and the more we achieve for our part of the city.

We will be reporting in more detail on the project at the 3
June Reservoir Hill Community Meeting.Also, there will be further opportunities for public input into the
design under development, and reporting out on progress at community
meetings.Watch for notices. We look
forward to the participation of everyone in crafting this plan.

If you have questions, or for more information contact Rick
Gwynallen at the RHIC office, 410.225.7547, or by e-mail at rgwynallen@reservoirhill.net .

Please join us for a evening of good food, stories, and fellowship among Reservoir Hill’s neighbors and friends.

Plus, you can join a new reading and discussion group that will be part of Homecoming.

Reading & Discussion Group Forming in Reservoir Hill

Author, Wes Moore’s book “The Other Wes Moore” is the kick-off reading in and will be discussed on Sunday, May 18th (late afternoon …between 4:00 and 6:30 pm) at The Homecoming celebration (see above notice). Everyone is welcome as a start-up member of this reading/discussion group.

Wes Moore, will be speaking at Beth Am on Saturday, June 7th. His appearance is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen our diverse community’s fabric. Many of “The Other Wes Moore “s live here in Reservoir Hill and elsewhere in Baltimore. Books, reading and thinking outside of an immediate box can influence which Wes Moore Life choice is made. A community reading/discussion group can be an enlightening tool for positive life choice outcomes, if we make it so! We are only limited by the millions of books and writings we can choose to read, discuss and grow together from. Your input and suggestions are welcomed.

Copies of the paperback edition of The Other Wes Moore can be purchased The Children’s Bookstore, 737 Deepdene Road410.532.2000, or at Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Place on Sunday 11 May, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. The book is offered for the special price of $9. When purchasing at Beth Am payment must be in the form of a check made payable to Beth Am. No cash or credit cards will be accepted.

To join or for more information on the Reading & Discussion Group, contact Russ Moss, (410) 728-1893, (410) 404-4482, russmoss@qis.net

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